Steering mechanism for toys



Dec. 2, 1958 w. H. JOHNSON 2,862,332

I STEERING MECHANISM F OR TOYS Filed May 1, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /2 Fig./

I08 mg Walter H. Johnson I N V EN TOR.

W. H. JOHNSON STEERING MECHANISM FOR TOYS Dec; 2, 1958 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 Filed May 1, 1957 Fig.5

all .Illflllll! Fig.9

Wa/fer H. Johhson INVENTOR.

BY M Ma,

United States Patent() STEERING MECHANISM FOR TOYS Walter H. Johnson, Grand Junction, Colo.

Application May 1, 1957, Serial No. 656,264

7 Claims. (Cl. 46--213) The present invention generally relates to novel concepts in the construction of toys and more particularly to a steering mechanism for toys which constitutes a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 436,145 now Patent 2,803,090 for Steering Mechanism for Toys filed June 11, 1954.

An object of the present invention is to provide a steering mechanism for toys operative in response to linear movement of the toy for imparting directional or steering control thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a steering mechanism for toys adaptable for various types of toys, with the structure being capable of orientation for providing a most compact steering control unit in which the control element may be easily interchanged with other control elements for varying the pattern of movement of the vehicle.

Yet another important object of the present invention is to provide a steering mechanism for toys in which the movement of the toy is converted to reciprocating movement, with the reciprocating movement in turn providing steering control by virtue of a cam slot being in engagement with the element reciprocated by the linear movement of the vehicle, thus providing directional control to the steering mechanism for the toy, with the shape of the cam slot determining the path of movement of the toy.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which: Figure l is a side elevational view of the toy of the present invention; 7

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the construction of Figure l; V

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken generally upon a' plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 2, showing certain details of construction thereof;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the toy of Figure 1 being converted to a water vehicle;

Figure 5 is a detailed plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-'-5 of Figure 3, illustrating the construction of the cam slot and the relationship of the pin thereto;

2,862,332 Fatented Dec. 2, 1958 ICC ing pin illustrating the roller journaled thereon for reducing the wear of the pin and cam slot in which the pin rides;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view of the vehicle showing a modified form of mechanism for providing directional control; and

Figure 10 is a plan sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 1010 of Figure 9 showing further structural details of the modified form of steering mechanism.

While the present invention is specifically illustrated in conjunction with toy vehicles of the land type or of the type travelling in water, it is pointed out that any type of toy may employ the steering mechanism of the present invention, and this includes any type of toy that may be propelled over the ground, in the water or in the air and may be in the form of a vehicle, simulated animal or any other moving object in which it is desirable to provide directional control during movement with the pattern of movement being determined by replacement of a control element. 7 Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a toy having the steering mechanism of the present invention incorporated therein. The toy 10 is in the form of a vehicle having an inverted, hollow housing 12 being generally inverted U-shaped in transverse cross section with a vertical rear end 14 and a curved forward end 16. It is pointed out that the housing 12 may be of any desired shape, size and material and may be of skeletonized framework and may actually be a subframe having other superstructure -mounted thereon, with the construction of the housing and the shape and size thereof depending upon the particular type of toy involved. Adjacent the rear of the housing 12 is a transverse drive shaft 18 having ground engaging wheels 20 on the outer end thereof, with each end of the axle 18 being screw threaded, as designated by numeral 22, for receiving a pair of clamping nuts 24 for clamping the ground engaging wheel 20 at each end of the axle 18 and for permitting removal of the wheels 20 if desired.

Adjacent the center of the axle 18 is provided a bevel gear 26 in meshing engagement with a bevel gear 28 connected to a drive shaft 30 on an electric motor 32 mounted on a transverse brace member 34. The electric motor 32 is driven from a pair of batteries 36 supported from brackets 38 adjacent the center of the housing 12 and being electrically connected to the motor 32 Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially -.Figur e; 8 is a detailed elevational view of the reciprocatby electrical conductors 40 and a switch mechanism 42, with the switch mechanism being supported from a transverse partition wall 44.

It is pointed out that the drive mechanism is optional and may include a spring motor which may be wound by a key and employs the stored energy of the wound spring. Further, other gearing mechanisms may be provided for driving the shaft 18 from the power source and the position of the switch mechanism may be altered and positioned in any way whatsoever for controlling the electric motor 32 in-the event an electric motor is employed.

Disposed forwardly of the partition wall 44 is the steering control mechanism which is generally designated by the numeral 46. The steering control mechanism 46 is supported from longitudinal frame members 48 and a transverse frame member 50 having a central pivot lug 52 extending rearwardly therefrom.

A small hollow and downwardly opening casing 54 is provided with an upper wall 56 having a forwardly projecting pivot lug 58 connected to the pivot lug 52 by a pivot pin 60 whereby the casing 54 may swing about the axis of the pivot pin 60. The top wall 5'6 of the casing 54 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 62 therein. Disposed above the longitudinal frame meinbers 48 and detachably and adjustably connected thereto is a guide plate 64 having a cam slot 66 therein with the cam slot 66 having angulated end portion 68. A longi tudinal slot 70 is provided adjacent each edge of the guide plate 6,4'and fasteners 72 extend downwardly through the slot 70 and support the guide plate 64 on the longitudinal frame members 48 so that longitudinal adjustment of the guide plate 64 will vary the position of the cam slot 66 in relation to the slot 62 of the top plate 56 for varying the path of movement of the toy in a manner described hereinafter.

Journaled in the depending longitudinal side walls 74 of the casing 54 is an elongated transverse axle 76 having ground engaging wheels 78 disposed on each outer end 'thereof, with each outer end of the axle 76 being screw posed longitudinally. The portion of the shaft 86 ex- ,tending rearwardly from the worm gear 88 is of larger cross sectional area, as designated by numeral 90, and is provided with a continuous cam groove 92 reversed upon itself at each end of the portion 90 for transmitting the rotational motion .of the shaft 86 to a reciprocating motion of a guide member 94 encircling the portion 92.

The guide member as shown in Figure 8 and designated by numeral 94 includes a projecting pin 96 having elongated rollers 98 and 99 journaled on the free end thereof. The roller 9% engages the longitudinal slot 62 in the top wall 56 and roller 99 engages the cam slot or'groove '66 in "the guide plate 64. The center of the guide member is hollow, as designated by numeral 100, for sliding movement on the portion 90 of the shaft 86 and is provided with a pin 102 rotatably mounted therein and including an arcuate projecting portion'104 riding in the cam groove 92 whereby the projection 104 approaching the point of reversal of the groove 92 at the end thereof will be caused to pivot about its own axis and follow the groove as the helix thereof is reversed, which in reality forms a double cam groove connected together at each end for forming a continuous cam groove whereby continuous unidirectional rotation of the shaft 86 will cause longitudinal reciprocal movement of the guide member 94. The longitudinal reciprocal movement of the guide member 94, the pin 96 and roller 98 and the constant relationship of the pin 96 in relation to the shaft 86 due to the guide slot 62 in the top plate 56 will cause pivotal movement of the entire rectangular cage 54 about pivot pin 60 due to the upper end of the pin 96 and the roller 98 riding in the cam groove 66 whereby the roller 98 engaging the angulated end portion 68 thereof will cause a reaction to be exerted on the casing 54 inasmuch as the guide plate 64 is rigid With the housing 12 through the longitudinal frame members 48, thereby causing the rotational force of the wheels 78 to be converted to a side thrust onto the casing 54 for varying the position of the axle 76 in relation to the longitudinal axis of the housing 12, whereby the toy will be guided in accordance with the shape and position of the guide plate 64. It is pointed out that the forward portion of the casing 12 may be removed for permitting ready access to the screw threaded fasteners 72 for permitting ready removal and replacement of the guide plate 64. Also, it is pointed out that the housing 12 has recesses 106 in each lower edge thereof for receiving the axle 76.

Also, by removingthe outer clamp nuts 24 and 82 on each of the axles, the wheels 20 and 78 may be replaced with paddles 108, whereby the casing 12 may be inverted and the device used as a water vehicle, such as a boat as shown in Figure 4, with it being pointed out that the contour of the casing 12 generally follows that of a boat.

Referring now specifically to Figures 9 and 10, the structure is somewhat the same, except that the inverted U-shaped casing is designated by numeral 119. A casing 112 is provided with a forwardly projecting tab 114 supported by a pivot pin 116. The side walls of the casing 112 are designated by numeral 118 and journal a transverse axle 1211 having ground engaging wheels 122 detachably supported on the outer ends thereof by clamp nuts 124 engaging a threaded portion 126. Supported on the axle is a drive gear 128 in meshing engagement with a flat face gear 130 mounted on the end of a vertical shaft 132. The vertical shaft extends above the top plate or top wall 134 of the casing 112 and has a cam 136 supported thereon. The cam 136 is retained in position by a collar 138 having a tension spring 140 connected thereto. It is noted that the collar 138 is rotatable on the shaft 132. The spring 140 has one end thereof connected with the collar 138 and the other end terminally secured to a stationary depending projection 142 on the housing 111 An inspection plate 144 is provided in the housing 110 to permit removal of the cam 136 so that the cam 136 may be replaced with cams having different contours. The periphery of the plate cam 136 is also in engagement with the stationary projection 142 which is cylindrical and generally forms acam roller or follower. When the vertical shaft 132 is rotated, the cam 136 will be rotated and due to its engagement with the projection 142, the entire casing 112 will be pivoted about the pivot pin 116 in accordance with the contour of the cam 136 as it is rotated against the projection 142 with the spring 1441 serving to hold the cam in contact with the projection 142 at all times and assuring the movement of the casing 112 so that the casing 112 will be controlled by the cam 136 at all times. Additional bearing support 146 may be provided for the shaft 132, thus providing a rigid vertical shaft 132 rotatable with the cam 136, whereby pivotal movement of the casing 112 will cause pivotal movement of the axle 120 about generally a vertical axis for altering the course of the travel of the ground engaging wheels 122.

It is further pointed out that when it is desired to reorient the entire steering mechanism 46 so that the axle 76 is in a longitudinal direction with respect to direction of travel of the toy one end of the axle 76 can receive a propeller. In this event, pivot lug 52 will be on longitudinal member 48 rather than on transverse member 50, or pivot lug 58 will be on one side ofupper wall 56, rather than on front.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A steering mechanism for mobile toys having propelling means comprising a supporting member pivotally supported from said toy for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, a transverse axle journaled in the supporting member, means on at least one end of the axlefor rotating the axle responsive to linear movement of the toy, a guide member slidable on said supporting member, means interconnecting the axle and the guide member for converting the unidirectional rotation of the axle to reciprocation of the guide member, a projecting pin on said guide member, a cam plate mounted on said toy, said cam plate having a cam slot therein receiving the projecting pin on the guide member, said cam plate being stationary whereby movement of the projecting pin in the cam slot will cause pivotal movement of the supporting member about a substantially vertical axis for pivoting the transverse axle about a generally vertical axis, thereby altering the plane of the means on the outer end of the axle for altering the direction of movement of the toy.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cam plate is removably and adjustably attached to the toy whereby the relationship of the cam slot may be altered for altering the path of movement and the cam plate may be replaced with other cam plates having cam slots of different shape and arrangement for varying the path of movement of the toy.

3. A steering mechanism for a toy of the type having a propelled body comprising a supporting member pivotally mounted on the body for swinging movement about a substantially vertical axis, a transversely extending shaft journaled on said supporting member, means on the outer ends of said shaft for controlling the direction of movement of the body and for rotating the shaft in response to movement of the body, a movable cam element mounted on said supporting member and being driven from said shaft, and a stationary cam element mounted on the body for coacting with said movable cam element for oscillating said supporting member and shaft about substantially a vertical axis when the shaft is rotated.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said supporting member is in the form of a rectangular casing extending longitudinally of the body and having the forward end thereof supported from the body.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said movable cam element includes a pin, said stationary cam element including a slot having angulated portions, said pin projecting into said slot, and means connected with said shaft for reciprocating said pin from end to end of said slot for oscillating said supporting member.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said movable cam element includes a rotatable cam driven from said shaft, said stationary cam element including a stationary projection on the body for engagement with the periphery of the camfor movement of the supporting member and shaft about a vertical axis when the shaft is rotated.

7. A mechanism for controlling the path of movement of a toy of the type having a propelled body, said mechanism comprising a supporting member supported from said body for pivotal movement about an axis generally perpendicular to the path of movement of the body, an axle supported from said supporting member and being rotatable in response to movement of the body, means on said axle for controlling the path of movement of the body responsive to pivotal movement of the supporting member and changes in angular relationship between the axle and the path of movement of the body, cam means mounted on said supporting member for movement in response to rotation of the axle, and stationary cam means on the body for coaction with the movable cam means whereby the movable cam means will cause pivotal movement of the supporting member upon movement of the body for altering the position of the control means on the axle in relation to the path of movement of the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

